Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said on Friday that a Florida sheriff’s deputy died in the line of duty because of President Joe Biden’s “reckless” open borders policies.
The Republican governor was expressing his condolences for Sgt. Michael Kunovich, a 25-year veteran of the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office.
Kunovich, 52, died last week after a brawl with Vergilio Aguilar Mendez, a suspect the deputy noticed outside a closed business in St. Augustine, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Kunovich questioned the suspect and tried to pat him down for weapons when the man tried to flee. In the attempt to detain him, Kunovich fought with Mendez for more than six minutes. During the fight, Mendez tried to take Kunovich’s Taser. After additional deputies arrived and handcuffed Mendez, he armed himself with a pocket knife.
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Moments later, Kunovich collapsed and died at a nearby hospital.
Kunovich, DeSantis tweeted on Friday, “was killed in the line of duty by an illegal immigrant who took advantage of our open border. Our prayers go out to the Kunovich family and the entire @SJSOPIO community during this time.”
“Joe Biden’s reckless immigration policies are deadly – it is no way to run a country.”
Breitbart News reported on Friday that Mendez was an 18-year-old illegal alien from Guatemala.
Sen. Rick Scott also expressed condolences for Kunovich.
“My heart goes out to the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office and the family of Sergeant Michael Kunovich following this devastating loss,” Scott tweeted on Friday. “We will forever be grateful for Sergeant Kunovich’s 25 years of dedicated service to his community.”
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